Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies have booked their place in the final of this year’s CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers after dethroning defending champions Gaborone United with a thumping 5-0 win at the Gaborone United Stadium on Thursday.
Sundowns head coach Godfrey Sapula made wholesome changes to the side that defeated Costa Do Sol in the final group game. It was the hosts who had a first shot on target in the 10th minute through a Keitumetse Dithebe free-kick which did not trouble the Sundowns defense. Sundowns shifted into another gear with Noxolo Cesane almost breaking the deadlock in the 16th minute however her effort went wide.
Three minutes later Refilwe Tholakelo had a chance but also missed the target. However the Botswana international redeemed herself a minute later, scoring a free header from a Karabo Dhlamini cross to open the scoring. Dhlamini could have doubled the lead herself in the 22nd minute but the effort was an easy save for the United goalkeeper.
Tholakele had a chance to complete a brace in the 37th minute from an Isabella Ludwig pass but the former shot over the bar. The Hollywoodbets Super League side’s persistence paid off in injury-time of the first half with Nonhlanhla Mthandi doubling the lead.
There were no immediate changes from both sides at the start of the second stanza. It took eight minutes into the half for Sundowns to have a real shot on target through Ludwig but her tame effort was easily saved.
There was also a chance for substitute Nthabiseng Majiya to get her side’s third goal at the hour mark but her header missed the goal line by an inch. It was Tholakele who scored Sundowns’ third goal, her second of the game in the 66th minute benefitting from a poor clearance by a United defender inside her box.
Tholakele could have grabbed a hat-trick but missed two chances inside the last 20 minutes. She has scored five goals in the tournament and rose to the summit of the top goal scorer chats. Meanwhile, Ludwig knocked another nail in United’s coffin scoring the fourth in the 77th minute after capitalizing on an unsuccessful Ronnel Donnelly’s rebound before Wendy Shongwe completed the rout in the 90th minute.
Sundowns will meet ZESCO Ndola Girls in Saturday’s final after the Zambians won 2-1 over Silver Strikers in the first semi-final.
The 2026 final is a repeat of last season’s semi-final where ZESCO Girls eliminated the two time African champions. The winner of the encounter will represent COSAFA at the continental finals later this year.